Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide a front line service for those living in towns where no community welfare officer is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3182/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following the transfer of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.

Where the CWS has been restructured alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. For example, where a customer is unable to travel to a clinic, alternative arrangements are available including improved phone services and if necessary arranging a visit to the client’s home.

People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly.

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to enable front line staff to triage applications for benefit related schemes made by the public, ensuring applicants do not spend months waiting on a decision for a scheme for which they should not have made application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Over the last number of years, the Department has developed a new integrated income support, employment and support service called ‘Intreo’, and has been transforming its nationwide network of Local Offices into ‘Intreo Centres’.

The Intreo Centre is a one-stop shop for all income and employment support services where customers can access job-seeking advice, information on vacancies and income support services all in the one place. Utilising an integrated reception area, the Intreo Centre provides information and access to income supports, including jobseekers' payments, back to work and back to education payments, one-parent family payments and community welfare services. In effect, this is the ‘triage’ service to which the Deputy refers.

Across the nationwide network of Intreo Centres and remaining Social Welfare Local Offices, staff continue to be available to provide information, to explain the Department’s schemes and services and, generally, to provide assistance to customers in order to enable them to access their full entitlements.

Information services in my Department are also complimented by over 200 Citizens Information Centres countrywide who also offer a drop in service, where customers can receive information and advice and help with the completion of application forms.

The Departments website has also been redesigned to incorporate information on the full range of services and customers can access information on all schemes and services.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to manage community staff resources where staff move to other areas internally or externally through job progression, retirement or ill health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3184/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed within the context of the Department’s pay budget, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources and that an efficient service can be provided to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.